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The annual Baseball America Handbook came out this week, and it is chock-full of prospect-y goodness. I won’t share too many particulars, since it is something you should buy if you want more deets. Among those details, including the Chicago Cubs’ system being ranked 13th in baseball (eh, lower, but still the right range), is the Cubs’ top 31 prospects.

Javier Baez, SS

Albert Almora, OF

Jorge Soler, OF

Arodys Vizcaino, RHP

Brett Jackson, OF

Pierce Johnson, RHP

Dan Vogelbach, 1B

Jeimer Candelario, 3B

Kyuji Fujikawa, RHP

Arismendy Alcantara, SS

Juan Carlos Paniagua, RHP

Christian Villanueva, 3B

Alberto Cabrera, RHP

Matt Szczur, OF

Junior Lake, SS/3B

Paul Blackburn, RHP

Duane Underwood, RHP

Dillon Maples, RHP

Logan Watkins, 2B/SS/OF

Marco Hernandez, SS

Gioskar Amaya, 2B

Tony Zych, RHP

Robert Whitenack, RHP

Trey McNutt, RHP

Josh Vitters, 3B

Barret Loux, RHP

Matt Loosen, RHP

Lendy Castillo, RHP

Marcus Hatley, RHP

Trey Martin, OF

Reggie Golden, OF

The Handbook has much, much more detail on each of those prospects, as well as various best tools/skills in the system. So, yeah, check out the Handbook if you want more.

For now, just looking at the list, it’s interesting to see how BA tends to be higher on the Cubs’ more advanced prospects, which is probably understandable. We’ve already seen BA’s Top Ten list for the Cubs, and many of the surprising omissions from that list show up in the 11 to 15 range on this one.

A number of prospects are grouped together with similar types. Blackburn, Underwood and Maples are all young pitching prospects that haven’t had a chance to show much yet, but who have nice upside potential. Zych and McNutt are power relief prospects (I’m making that assumption on McNutt at this point). Loux, Loosen, and Castillo are fringy, older starting prospects who have a chance to establish themselves as legit back-end starter types this year (assuming Castillo remains in the organization after being DFA’d this weekend).

In the top 12, there are just four pitchers – one of whom is Kyuji Fujikawa, who kind of doesn’t count. But in the subsequent 19, there are 11 pitchers. Sounds about right. And not a lefty among them, I should add.

Hey, Brett has to a baby on the way. Diapers, wipes and what not cost money. So, just like the rooftop owners, unless you are willing to supplement that income, then just let it be.

MichiganGoat

those ads are built around your browsing history, so maybe you’ve been looking at Sox tickets hmmmmm. Mine are typcially advertising kegerators or baby items.

blublud

Oh, so that explains all the porn and Beastality ads I’ve been getting.

DarthHater

Strangely, I’m now getting ads related to goats who feed beer to babies…

yield51

I don’t think this is necessarily true. I too have the Sox add, and I don’t spend any extra time on Sox related stuff opposed to the other 28 teams. I also don’t have any interest in snowmobiles.

Andrewmoore4isu

Mine are always about retirement. I’m 21. :,( so far away.

hansman1982

Then it’s because of the ISU tag there. Clearly the internets is just telling you to give up now.

Mine are always all over the place since I work for a giant bank.

LubDub

no these ads are not related to your browsing history….at all.

MichiganGoat

Yes the ads are related to you Internet browsing, but some ads are pushed to everyone and some are just like billboard ads (they are consistent throughout) I highly doubt that people in California are getting ads the the small college here in Michigan plus brewing supply stores 5 miles from me.

http://www.justinjabs.com/blog/ justinjabs

I keep getting ones for Soma, an intimates store my girlfriend works at.

They know…

blublud

I kind of Disappointed Barret Loux is so low. I think he should be in the top 10 on this list, so considering he listed at 26, disappointed might be an understatement. Maybe I’m higher on him then most people, but does anybody think 26th is appropriate.

King Jeff

I agree, even considering his arm problems, he’s put up the numbers, he’s only 23, and he is only a few years removed from being the number 6 overall pick in the draft. If he has another good year, and stays healthy, he’ll get a lot more love.

Mirky Waters

Wow, Vitters all the way down at 25 ! I need to refresh my memory on that draft and take a look at some of the names taken after him. We really missed out there

North Side Irish

Don’t do it…it’ll make you sad and there’s nothing to do about it now. Vitters was a legit prospect at the time and nobody blamed the Cubs for taking him there.

Mirky Waters

Yea, I shouldn’t have gone back and looked at that draft. Seeing names like Jason Heyward and my boy Jarrod Parker, made me want to Irish up my coffee

yield51

Don’t even bother looking at the second round then. Unless you want to disband the coffee altogether and go with straight booze.

Marcel91

Like someone already mentioned. NO ONE blamed the Cubs for taking Vitters with that pick. Even the “experts”. Sometimes the cards just don’t fall your way. At the end of the day we’ve gotta realize that even though it seems like Vitters has been here forever the guy is still younger than Anthony Rizzo and never received quality instruction till this year. He still has a chance to be at least solid.

ETS

” and never received quality instruction till this year.” what makes you think that?

yield51

I never said anything about Vitters. If you did look at the draft you would see that the Cubs also had a supplemental pick ahead of J.Zimmermann, and Giancarlo. Donaldson, who was then shipped off for Harden, I think.

Rich H

That is because of his big time hurting he got in the majors last year. He is not done just value is at all time low. That is the problem with these lists. As guys have been on them for a few years they appear more tainted. Remember Trout went from number 1 prospect to number 3 before last season because he supposed “Failed” at a end of season call up.

GDB

Seems a bit off to rank him low just based on his first 100 ABs in the majors, so i’d hope BA would look a bit more in depth on players rather than just ranking them on their last 100 ABs and current level of hype.

Where would he rank if he had stayed in AAA all year and maintained his hitting to finish – .304/.356/.513 and 20+ homeruns – Chances are he’d look like a better prospect, but would he be as far along in a development sense?

Rich H

I’m totally with you. On a guy like Vitters because he has already been around a long time they start looking for reasons why this kid is not on the 25 man roster. So after 4 years on these lists he looks all warty. Do I know if the guy deserves more respect? Maybe.

In development terms hopefully that stinking up of Wrigley the second half of last year showed him what he needs to work on. He isn’t done yet but he has got some serious work to do to get over with his new bosses.

Marcel91

Agreed. Vitters and Jackson are the image of how the previous regime failed to develop prospects. Their philosophy was to just let them play on natural ability and if a pitch looks good, swing away. If you put up good numbers, you got a promotion whether they had distinguishable flaws or not.

Imagine where Bjax and Vitters would be if they recieved the kind of quality instruction were seeing given to guys like Baez, Soler, Almora, Vogelbach etc in extended spring training….We might have had our 3B CF issue solves for this year. They are JUST NOW being given that kind of instruction so i’d like to see how they do with it.

http://Isa Voice of reason

Don’t be surprised by vitters falling.

He can’t play third in the bigs so they want to make him an outfielder.

And, he isn’t hitting right now, either.

Not a good combination!

Jimmy James

That’s a big fall for a guy that put up good numbers at aaa at a young age…..we all knew he wasn’t going to do anything when he got called up, I think it was meant to be a wake up call to him

Kevin B

yeah we missed out all right ….. we passed on MATT WIETERS!

TWC

Boy, Vitters’s stock has really taken a dive, eh?

smh… steroids.

blublud

Nah, Our systems is just that deep. I mean, All of those guys ahead of him are MLB ready, but we have no where to play them at. Out team, both in the minors and at the MLB is to loaded. But we could ship him and Lendy Castillo out to the Angels for Trout.

SirCub

Yea, I agree, it’s actually nice to see guys that were top 10 level before, who haven’t really fallen off that much, who are all of a sudden outside the top 25. Shows there have been a lot of new guys moving in at the top.

But seriously, though. Steroids.

hansman1982

The problem, steroids, is that the Cubs have so many, steroids, prospects from 11-25, steroids, that, steroids, you could steroid them around without much, steroids, discomfort.

Steroid.

LubDub

quit being a tool

TWC

Pot, meet kettle.

DarthHater

said the hammer to the wrench

hansman1982

Just steroid for steroid that steroid, steroid I steroid, steroid will steroid tool steroid it steroid up steroid all steroid the steroid time steroid ! steroid

How steroid about steroid you steroid just steroid sit steroid down steroid now steroid ! steroid

Admittedly I haven’t been around the comments much lately, so maybe I missed something, but is this a serious comment?

hansman1982

Just having fun with crazy trade ideas and the new kid that showed up yesterday and comment #1 was a shameless plug for his site (that generated some serious traffic if his twitter is to be believed). Since then, it’s been a blast from the late 90’s about steroids BECOMING a problem.

I want to say comment # 1 was in yesterday’s bullets. We gave him a chance.

MichiganGoat

Plus he does not respond to twitter comments in think he confused this site with BleacherReport

http://Isa Voice of reason

@ blublood

Do you believe what you type?

All the guys ahead of vitters are major league ready, but we have no openings for them?

You also said the rangers would trade garza for olt today. You also said the cubs would sign bourne right now if they could get him for 13mil a year on a three year deal.

Why would I be surprised by this latest revalation?

http://Isa Voice of reason

@ blublood

I forgot your other gem…

You said the cubs will finish above .500 this year!

Carew

you do realize the vitters being blocked with a bunch of mlb-ready players comment was a joke, right?

Rumor has it that there was a Garza-Olt trade before Garza got hurt. A Bourn deal like that would be reasonable.

Finally, what’s wrong with optimism? we want our team to be over .500..

What happened to Evan Crawford? Is he still in the organization? I’m not saying that he should be on this list, just that I haven’t heard his name in a long time. Was he hurt/cut last year?

Cedlandrum

rehab from acl

yield51

Thanks. I’ve never seen him play, I just remember reading box scores and liked what I saw.

The Dude Abides

We moved up one spot to 13th in Baseball Americas rankings. Baseball America must not get how smart our front office is and what we are accomplishing here in Chicago.

The Cards were number one and they have not had a pick higher than 13th overall in the draft since 1999.

Good times are coming, I hear it everywhere I go, but they’re sure coming slow.

Rich H

They know exactly how smart these guys are but also know that most of the draft of 2011 was hurt this year or in EXST to get use to playing professionally. So almost none of them other than Vogelburg and Baez got much love. I bet if they redo this breakdown at the All Star break it will look much different.

Kukini

I’m not terribly familiar with BA’s rankings, but if they tend to be mainstream, it’s not just Vitters who took a big hit – Szczur, Lake and Maples are way down as well, in addition to Whitenack and McNutt. I know Whitenack had Tommy John, but that hasn’t affected Vizcaino’s stock much.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I was under the impression we’d be seeing Szczur and Lake, among others, in 2013?

Noah

Vizcaino made his Major League debut at age 20 just before getting hurt, and was ok in limited time out of the pen (he walked too many guys, but small sample size and he limited walks throughout the minors). Vizcaino will be returning to AAA to start the season at age 22 to attempt to get stretched out into a starting role. He is probably at least a very good back end of a bullpen pitcher in the end.

Robert Whitenack was having a breakout year at age 22 in 2011 in High A and AA before getting hurt. Upon his return, to High A ball at age 23, he got knocked around a good bit in a pitcher’s league (although not a shock in a first stint back from TJS.) There’s just a world of difference between Whitenack and Vizcaino.

Vizcaino has better stuff and much higher upside. If his body can withstand a starter’s workload, he has the potential to be a 2. Whitenack’s potential is probably more a 4-5 type. And Vizcaino succeeded at higher levels of the minors while being significantly younger than Whitenack. There’s just a world of difference between the two.

SirCub

Feels weird to have Kyuji up there. He definitely doesn’t seem like a prospect, but I guess he is.

Rizzofanclub

On ESPN there is an insider article saying the cubs and red sox positioned to trade. I’m not an insider (don’t see the point in paying for baseball rumors when you have this site and mlbtraderumors.) I was wondering if anything was worth reading or was it just saying how the cubs have a lot of pitchers and could be a match with Boston.

Noah

Essentially just said Cubs are trying to move Soriano.

hansman1982

#1 – Stop listening to ESPN.
#2 – ESPN has been trying to tie the Cubs and Red Sox together ever since Theo came over on any possible trade scenario
#3 – Stop listening to ESPN.

Noah

I’d generally agree with you, just with a couple of caveats. They do have a few very good baseball writers. Law, Schoenfield and Simon are all quite good, and they get solid contributions from BP and FG writers. But, yes, I’d say generally that you can ignore Olney, Bowden, etc. They’re analysis just comes from a different era.

Noah

That should be “their.”

Rizzofanclub

Thank you Noah. I agree hansman ESPN is not a good source of info b/c all they talk about is Boston and the Yankees.

hansman1982

It’s not just that, I understand focusing on those two because there are a LOT of eyeballs that are from that area, but I swear to God, if I hear that a team won a ballgame for having more heart than the other team, I am going to kick a baby.

Cubbie Blues

That is pretty close to becoming a Cardinals fan.

hansman1982

Tim – 2/2 on the day in zingers directed at my head.

Anyway, a Cardinal fan would have the baby kick them.

Cubbie Blues

I was more thinking about the story a couple years ago with Cardinals fans punch babies unless a Cubs fan is around. Trying to use an obscure throwback.
[img]https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mxw60l9ecl4eg81/84_Ia-2DAY/punch_babies_render_2.gif[/img]

hansman1982

oh, I missed/forgot about that…I was trying to tie Cardinal Fan-dom to the Yakov Smirnoff bit…

Cubbie Blues

I used the Cardinals fans punch babies on a TSA agent when she gave me a hard time last Sunday on my way back home. The look on her face when I told my sons not too worry, she couldn’t punch baby girl because Cubs fans were around was priceless. My boys responded with “Yeah, because Cardinals fans punch babies.”

yield51

I generally like what Law writes when he sticks to baseball. He is a very hard follow on twitter though. His unimaginative responses make him come across as an arrogant ass. He tries too hard to be funny…stick to baseball. Callis, Badler, and Keri offer similar info without the B.S. Jonah Keri has become my favorite sportswriter over the past couple years or so.

hansman1982

Agree, there are writers outside of ESPN that are just as, if not more steroid than the mothershippers.

Kevin Goldstein was the non-ESPN equivelant to Law, but less arrogant and douchey.

yield51

I liked Goldstein, but he was still douchey, and arrogant. I don’t understand why baseball writers think they are all gourmet chef’s, and TV critics.

North Side Irish

Can’t argue with 1 and 3, but the article just listed them both as teams with excess inventory at a specific position. Not linking them together, just that both have a surplus to trade. For the Cubs it was having too many OFers and how Soriano could be a fit for the Yankees, Rays, or Orioles. Which basically reinforces points 1 and 3.

Spriggs

#4 – Stop listening to ESPN

hansman1982

#5 Steroids

Good Captain

Zero LHP in our top 30 propsects. I wonder how atypical or typical that is in other organizations.

Noah

Probably not typical, but not HUGELY atypical or anything like that. LHPs tend to be starters or LOOGYs. If you’re not a clear starter, your MLB value as a LOOGY is very limited, at least as far as being a prospect.

When the Music’s Over

How Reggie Golden makes any list at this point is beyond me.

http://www.bleachernation.com Brett

He was very well regarded until the knee injury last year. Keith Law had him top ten at that time.

hansman1982

He seems like the Junior Lake of the outfield. Lots of tools but incredibly raw.

Cedlandrum

A good comparison, but has had less development time. Really i was thinking a good comparison as far as things go would be Underwood. Both 2nd round picks who were thought to be really raw, but with really high ceilings. I know one is a pitcher and the other a hitter, but I am just talking big skills and lots of work to do. 1st round talent in the second round because of risk associated.

When the Music’s Over

I like tools and all, but he’s 21 at this point, and has only had a total of 300 ABs in 3 years. At this point, he’s probably got to be classified as someone to keep an eye on, but nothing more.

Jr. Lake comparison is probably apropos in terms of athleticism, but Golden, for all intents and purposes, has not made is above Boise.

I really hope he succeeds, but he seems so far off, with so much risk, and at this point, how much reward?

Noah

He probably made the list as the throw in because of the ACL tear last year. He has all the physical tools to make a big jump, he just need to improve his baseball skills.

Cedlandrum

Why? He is a pretty talented guy who ranked 31st. I realize he got hurt this year but I think he has a chance of being a pretty good player. Good enough athlete who can throw and run a bit(not a basestealer), could hit for power, may hit for an ok average, but can talk a walk. There is plenty to like about the kid. Also he was ranked in the top 20 last year, so it is understandable why he didn’t fall completely off.

When the Music’s Over

Small sample size, but also has a huge K-rate. Interesting that some guys get a pass on this stat, while others don’t. Maybe in his case because he has a nice BB rate.

Overall, I like the guy, but any inclusion on any list at this point is simply because of his athletic projection.

AB

I dunno

Golden’s been hurt several times now I believe, and conditioning seemed to be a flag for him when he was drafted. Its usually a pretty bad sign if a guy is getting constantly hurt while he’s supposed to be in his physical prime.

Die hard

Clearly need to add a few LHP

Noah

I’m a little surprised that Torreyes didn’t make the list at all. I know he’s diminutive and lacks power upside, but he plays an up the middle position and after a slow start was quite successful in the FSL at age 19.

Jason Cash

Where does Shoulders rank?

SirCub

Number one on the “Best Baseball Name” list.

hansman1982

Ya, if his name was John Smith, I doubt many people would know he existed.

Cedlandrum

I don’t know about that. He was a an overslot guy who got 3rd round money in the 25th round to keep him from going to South Florida. So he was thought of well enough to try to get him to sign. He isn’t a great prospect but he has some potential there. He has a good approach, massive power and some swing and miss to his game.

He is probably like Gretzky, Dunston, Martin, and Rosario in that they will probably need another year or two to determine what kind of prospect they are. 4 years ago though they would have been top 20 prospects though.

Mick

I’ll bet the 2 biggest risers from that list will be Reggie Golden (#31) and Ronald Torreyes (NR) with an honorable mention to Justin Bour (NR). Depending on how long Golden takes to rehab his ACL and come back to full strength I could see him in the top #15 by season’s end.

Rich H

Depending on how he holds up I think you are a little low on Golden. He was consistently top 10 to 15 prospects last year before getting hurt. So it will be more likely he will be top 10 if he is healthy and improves.

Mick

Hell, he could be top-5 if all goes well but he tore his ACL in April or May and it takes at least a year to fully come back. Plus, he started out cold last season and now he’s missed almost a full season. Scouts were comparing him to a young Ron Gant before he got hurt.

The other guy I’m high on but continues to get under-rated is Gioskar Amaya. If Villanueva is #12, there’s no reason Amaya shouldn’t be #11. Amaya is younger, faster, and more powerful which is a premium in the MI as oppossed to 3B. The kid is like a mini, speedy version of Miguel Cabrera.

Spriggs

With you on Amaya.

Noah

Amaya might be younger and have a higher ceiling, but he hasn’t played above short season ball. Amaya will be starting in Peoria this year, Villanueva will be in Double A. There’s just a much higher level of certainty that Villanueva will be a Major Leaguer.

Spriggs

Jensen and McNeil could easily be inserted somewhere towards the end of the top 31 without surprising many. They are worth watching this year. Nice to see Golden getting the props.

Wasn’t Gerardo Concepcion signed to start building a cache of lefties? make or break this coming season?

Noah

Concepcion is beyond make or break at this point. He’s at give a reason why anyone should care about him as a baseball player at all. If he’s as bad this year as he was last, I’m not even positive he’s worth using a Low A roster spot on.

Spencer

Prospect rankings are crazy! smh

Joshua Shapiro

What about Timothy Saunders???

Spriggs

Grace pleads guilty… 4 months in jail

MichiganGoat

Somebody is about to meet a new slumpbuster

mak

heyo!

Luke D

Lol @ Reggie Golden

JR

How is B. Jackson at #5? I have been a Jackson guy for years, but it doesn’t look good for him. Everything I have read basically gives him very little chance of ever being a solid regular outfielder after his striking out circus last year. I am surprised one of the other guys with a less crazy fault isn’t ahead of him…

Noah

Here would be my theory on listing Jackson 5: If he actually fixes the swing and makes more contact he could be great. Even if he doesn’t, though, his combination of patience and power (for the position) can make up for the Ks. His BABIP, at .298, was much lower than what he put up in the minors. Clearly he can’t survive with a 41.5% K rate, but if he gets it down to 35 and the BABIP up to .330 he could at least be a .230/.320/.430 guy, which is a regular in center.

Not saying I necessarily agree with the theory, but I can understand it at least.

http://www.Chicagocubstalk.blogspot.com ChicagoCubsTalk

This looks amazing..So excited for the future..Go Cubs Go!

Cubbie Blues

Do you happen to be from Russia? I believe you are looking the Aaron Miles post.

Marcel91

You have to think a healthy Ben Wells and Josh Conway make this list. Ryan McNeil as well if he had more appearances under his belt. That 3 extra pitchers right there who should be in our top 20 come next year.

Hard to justify Reggie Golden and not Ronald Torreyes not being on the list….. Take out the bad April/May and he destroyed the ball all season.

Also nice to see Whitenack still high. He has #3-type stuff and had success at AA. Hopefully he’s recovered fully.

Speaking of top prospects — was out at the Hundley Fantasy Camp at Fitch Park today and on one of the fields a bunch of young guys taking batting practice – most I didn’t recognize… until I saw “the swing”. Walked over and watched Baez and Vogie bang out line drive after line drive. What a thrill it is to watch those young dudes hit.

Spriggs

I forgot to mention that Vogie looks a tad trimmer.

CubFan Paul

but did he look 40lbs trimmer? ..under 260lbs?

Cubbie Blues

Are you sure losing 40 would actually put him under 260?

CubFan Paul

No, no, 260 is my target weight for Vogelbach. I’m waiting for him to surprise us with “I’m in the best shape of my life…”

blublud

Well, if he trims down to 315, he could probably say that.

CubFan Paul

What?! Where are the photos of this kid? I’m always reading about his sloppy body. There’s no way he’s pushin four bills…

I’ve seen him sitting while at a game (on tv), he looked like Thor in a Lacoste polo.

blublud

I was joking. I don’t think he’s even 300 lbs. I think he is about 250 or 260. He just a naturally big guy. He now where near 4 bills and not even over 3 of them.

But supposedly his hit tool (not power) is already above average, with a 60-70 potential. Combined with 65-80 power he may be able to get away with not being in the “best shape of his life”

Cubbie Blues

The photo info says May 2011. So, a little over 1 1/2 years ago. That’s fairly recently but, I could see him being able to have lost 40 lbs or more since then.

SirCub

Apparently Oliver projections are a pretty big fan of Vogelbach, according to this piece from fangraphs:

“Oliver expects Vogelbach to be a major-league-average first baseman by 2014 (.254/.317/.497, .346) and quite good by 2016 (.271/.339/.558, .377). What he’s shown so far is a ceiling of middling batting average, below-average walks, but 30-plus home runs. This next season will add a lot of data to make his projection more reliable.”

Spriggs

I can’t wait to see how this crop of young guys develope this year.

SirCub

Me too. I’m as excited for that as I am for big league ball.

CastrotoBarneytoRizzo

I might be the only one, but was curious what the status of Lendy Castillo is after being DFA’d. Was frustrated that we kept him on the roster all last year only to possibly lose him for nothing, especially seeing he is considered the #28 prospect in our system. Anyone?

nkniacc13

he’s still in DFA mode. the cubs have to wait 10 days after DFA to send him to minors or see if he was claimed

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